Gar-coupling



E. 'N. GIPPORD.

GAR GOUPLING.

.No. 269,043. Patented Dec. 12, 1882.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EZRA N. GIFFORD, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 269,043, dated December 1?, 1882, Application filed November '7, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that-I, EZRA N. GIFFORD, of Cleveland, in thecounty of Guyahogaand State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in (Jar-Couplers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates toimprovementsin carcouplings; and it consists in parts and combinations of parts, as will be more fully hereinalter described and claimed.

The object of my invention is to improve and perfect certain devices for a car-coupling on which I have already obtained Letters Patentto wit, filed September 15, 1882, and allowed October 13, 1882.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse vertical sectional view of a draw-head, and showing thecoupling-pin, and at 0 one of my new devices. Fig. 2is a longitudinal vertical sectional view, showing the coupling-pin in connection, as at d, with my other new device. Fig. 3 is the same view as Fig. 2, and shows at O and at each of the devices of my new invention. Fig. 4 is the same view as Fig. 1, and shows at a one device of my former invention aforesaid. Fig. 5 gives the same view as a portion of Fig. 2, and shows at D one device of my former aforesaid invention.

In Fig. 1, A represents a coupling-pin; a, a pin secured to said coupling-pin and projecting from one side of said coupling-pin.

B is the chamber or recess of the draw-head in which said coupling-pin operates.

G is a key or plate fastened in any suitable manner, but preferably by a dovetail, (see Fig. 3,) to the top and side of the draw-head, and projecting-over the chamber B in such a manner as to engage the pin a when the draw-pin A is drawn up for the purpose of uncoupling cars and acts as a stop to the pin a,and prevents the draw-pin A from being detached from the draw-head and lost or stolen.

In the device (Fig. 4) as allowed by said Letters Patent a set-screw, 0, passed through the side of the draw-head and projected into the chamber B, and was used for the same purpose for which I now devise the plate Oto wit,

for a stop, as aforesaid. I have invented the plateO and desire to substitute it in place of my former device for the following reasons, to wit: first, the said plate 0 being placed at the extreme top of the draw-head, the draw-pin A can be raised higher in the said chamber B, and therefore will be less liable to come in contact with the coupling-link during the passage of said link into and out of the chamber B in coupling and uneouplingcars; second, the said plate furnishes a larger and better surface for contact with the pin a than a bolt or set-screw, and therefore operates better, and is more durable; third,the plateO is cheaper to make and attach than the former devices, and also requires less adjustment, and is less liable to get loose and be lost.

As shown in Fig. 2, the draw-pin A is provided with a recessed cap. a, extending back far enough to engage with the teat 1) when the coupling-pin is raised and tilted back, thus making a firm support for said pin in said raised position,as allowed by said Letters Patent. .The end of the teat D, as used in our former device aforesaid, is more clearly shown in Fig. 5. I now devise a depression, d, in the top of said teat D, in which the wall or edge of said recessed cap a may be placed, forming a temporary support for said draw-pin A while ears are being coupled or uncoupled. The engagement of said cap a with said depression d is so slight that the concussion of the cars will break the said engagement and cause the coupling-pin A to fall by its own gravity into its place in the chamber B and engage the coupling-link, and thus fasten or couple the cars without further manipulation.

In our former device, as allowed in said Letters Patent, a branch chamber was provided wherein the point of said draw-pin rested for temporary support in coupling and uncoupling cars, as aforesaid; but the accumulation of snow and ice in said branch chamber sometimes renders this device inoperative. Hence I have invented the said device-t0 wit, the impression (I on the end of the teat D-and desire to substitute it in place of my former device of a branch chamber, as aforesaid.

WVhat I claim isi 1. In a car-coupling device, the combination,

with the coupling-pin A and the pin a, of the In testimony whereof I sign this specificaplate 0, substantially as and for the purpose tion, in the presence oftwo witnesses, this 24th [0 shown and described. A day of October, 1882.

2. In a car-coupling device, the combination, with the teat D, the coupling-pin A, and the EZRA GIFFORD' recessed cap a, of a depression, 01, in the end Witnesses: of the teat D, substantially as and for the pur- JNO. CROWELL, J r., pose set forth. GEO. W. KING. 

